Translation guide
Expressions for masturbation in Japanese, ranging from clinical to slang, with notes on gender and context.
A neutral, formal, or medical way to say 'masturbate'.
The standard clinical term for masturbation, used as a noun or with する to mean 'to masturbate'. Gender-neutral and formal.
自慰は健康に良いと言われることもある。
It is sometimes said that masturbation is good for your health.
Casual, often vulgar expressions used primarily by men.
The most common slang term for male masturbation, derived from German 'Onanie'. Used as a noun or with する. Can be considered vulgar.
彼は毎晩オナニーしているらしい。
Apparently he masturbates every night.
A vulgar slang term for male masturbation, literally 'thousand rubs'. Very casual and crude.
Verb meaning 'to jerk off', from the sound シコシコ (sound of rubbing). Very informal and vulgar.
昨日はずっとシコってた。
I was jerking off all day yesterday.
Casual expressions used primarily by women.
Also used for female masturbation, though sometimes specified as 女性のオナニー. Same vulgarity level as male usage.
女性のオナニーはまだタブー視されることがある。
Female masturbation is still sometimes considered taboo.
Vulgar slang for female masturbation, combining マン (slang for vagina) and ずり from せんずり. Very crude.
彼女はマンずりが好きだって。
She says she likes to finger herself.
Softer, less direct ways to refer to masturbation.
Literally 'do it alone', a common euphemism for masturbation. Can be used by any gender.
昨日、一人でしちゃった。
I did it alone yesterday (masturbated).
Literally 'comfort oneself', a more literary or poetic euphemism.
彼は孤独な夜に自分を慰めた。
He comforted himself on lonely nights.
A formal, somewhat archaic term for masturbation, literally 'self-defilement'. Rarely used in modern speech.
自涜は罪だと教えられた。
I was taught that self-defilement is a sin.
Slang terms like オナニー, せんずり, and シコる are considered vulgar and should be avoided in polite conversation. Use 自慰 or マスターベーション in formal or educational settings.
While オナニー is used for all genders, some slang is gender-specific. When in doubt, use 自慰 or マスターベーション for a neutral term.
Loanword from English, used in formal or educational contexts. Often abbreviated as マス in casual speech.
性教育の授業でマスターベーションについて学んだ。
We learned about masturbation in sex education class.
あいつ、またせんずりしてるよ。
That guy is jerking off again.